Data leak affects 425,000 Swiss Abroad
Cyber blackmailers have stolen and published what is probably the most comprehensive data set on Swiss citizens abroad. How was this possible? In mid-May, a stolen data set appeared on the darknet. The content was information about subscribers to Swiss Review. This is a federal government magazine that keeps Swiss citizens abroad up to date on developments in their home country. The data set is comprehensive. It currently contains over 425,000 addresses, 40% of which are postal and 60% email addresses. Anyone who is registered in Switzerland as a citizen resident abroad automatically receives Swiss Review – either by email or by post. According to the foreign ministry, only 330,000 of the 800,000 Swiss Abroad do not receive Swiss Review – among them, Italian-speaking Swiss. The Swiss foreign ministry observes all data protection rules in the way it handles these addresses, because this data is not voluntarily submitted; it comes from Swiss consulates abroad. Anyone who...